The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1887-08-18


I approve the above resolutions,
having been absent from the meet
ing. JAS. L. OAKEs, St. ward.
They appointed DR.. C. C. Aber-
nathy one of their members to pre-.
sent the resolutions to the district
conference at Lynnville April, 1887,
and to explain to that body the his
tory of the school, its status and
relation TO the church ";. .l, Inc hone
oil avoiding litigation and the con-
sequent damage that might result
to both school and church. The
conference was held and the matter
considered in committee but not in
open conference and as a result the
REALTORS in this cause were appoint
ed q committee to confer with the
board Of trust OF the college to take
such legal steps as should determine
to whom the control and manage
ment of the school belonged. No
conference was had with the board
of trust by this committee but the
present suit was brought by them
under that resolution. The Ten
nessee annual conference has taken
no action whatever in the premises
The district conference did not have
any jurisdiction whatever Of the
matter and respondents cannot be-
lieye that on cool, christian redec-
ton the annual conference will
sanction this action ON the part of
the REALTORS. In the meantime
much feeling had arisen in the com
mu unity over the controversy. The
friends Of the school who knew its
history demanded that the claim of
the REALTORS be resisted. Many
persons who had subscribed to the
college notified the board of trust
that they would sue to recover back
their subscriptions if SAID claims
were not resisted. Many patrons,
Methodist and Otherwise, proclaim
ed openly that they would not pat
ronize the school If under such cir
cumstances and for such reason q
change should be made in it's man
agement and control. The fact Of
the existence OF the controversy
was made public in the daily ana
weekly papers, secular and religious,
published both at the state capital
and in this county.
Other publications followed thick
and fast without the least regard to
the damage that might ensue to the
college. The board of trust have
deprecated all these publications
and have never answered a word in
vindicatiOn OF their action in the
premises. They deeply deplore the
controversy. They desire as here
tofore the fostering care Of the
Methodist Church, South and have
no quarrel with it. They have at
all times given 1t fair equivalent
for its care and influence and will
continue to do so in the future so
far as they can do so consistently
with their obligations to others and
the proper discharge of their duties
and trusts. Defendants submit to
the court the following PROPOSE
tons:
Is5 It is the plain and obvious
intention OF the will of Thomas
Martin that the officers of the
local Methodist church at Pulaski
should receive the interest upon the
bonds of the state of Tennessee and
appropriate the same as directed by
the will through such plan and
scheme as they should deem best
calculated to effect the object in
view and the plan adopted by the
officers OF the church is accordance
with the will and intentions of Mr..
Martin as indicated by him in the
18th item of said will and is in no
wise contrary to said will and the
object in view and it is not q correct
interpretion of said will that the
school when founded should be de-
nominational in It's teaching and
management, but on the contrary
it should be free from denomina-
Jlonal centrCl SO as best to invite
all denominations to its support.
Neither is 1t correct construction
of said will that the school should
be placed under the management
and control of the quarterly or an